Court scuffle: Police's inaction is being probed, says BS Bassi

New Delhi: Under mounting attack over police inaction when journalists and JNU students were being thrashed in a court complex, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi today said the alleged negligence is being probed and the guilty will face legal action.

Asked why policemen present at the Patiala House Court did not intervene when the assault was going on, Bassi only said the issue pertains to people from "two different lines of thought" confronting each other in a charged environment.

When pressed further, he said, "In the investigation, we will also probe whether there was any negligence on part of any police personnel. If it turns out to be so, the concerned official will have to face legal action."

Bassi had yesterday termed the assault as a 'minor' incident, saying it was fallout of an emotive issue, comments which evoked strong reaction from journalists and JNU students.

Yesterday, groups of lawyers had beaten up journalists and JNU students and teachers in the Patiala House court complex ahead of the hearing of the sedition case registered against JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with an event at the university last week to protest hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Delhi BJP MLA OP Sharma was also seen beating up a CPI activist. Asked why Sharma has not been booked when he was caught on camera assulting a man, Bassi said, "Whoever is found guilty during investigation, will have to face legal action.